AFL SATURDAY $50,000+ CHEAT SHEET

Round 20 is a big one. Seven teams sit within striking distance of one another, and a spot in the finals, while two teams are just one further game ahead of that pack. West Coast and Richmond are the likely top two, but how the rest of the eight shapes up is anyone’s guess.

Thankfully, Saturday features a number of match-ups that are likely going to be season defining for the chasing pack. As a result, we will undoubtedly see enticing match-ups and players putting everything on the line to get their side over the line. Let’s take Hawthorn v Essendon as an example; both sides need to win this game. Tell me, who out of Mitchell, Smith, Breust, Devon Smith, Hurley or Merrett is going to leave anything in the tank once the final siren sounds? Nobody.

So we can be sure, not only will the games we watch be remarkable, each and every player will be battling so hard they could get blood from a stone. That means inflated and unlikely DS scores.

The excitement that comes with the last month of the AFL is unparalleled. Why not add some more excitement by jumping on board the Draftstars $50,000+ Saturday. It’s far easier than getting blood from a stone and you could pocket yourself nearly $5,000 with a win. Follow the link below to access the competition, and use my side for some tips on where to scrounge up some points!

Here is a team you may consider for the AFL $50,000+ Saturday competition

Forward

Luke Breust ($13,000)

This man is criminally underrated. Realistically, despite a slightly down year last year, he has been one of the premier small forwards in the competition. A month ago, against the Dogs, he booted five goals in a half and managed seven for the game. Small forwards don’t do that. He is also remarkably consistent, sitting third in the Coleman, averaging 2.5 goals a game. As with his goal kicking, you can be sure of his success and guarantee yourself about 70 DS points per game.

Marcus Bontempelli ($12,590)

What can be said about “The Bont” that isn’t already in the typical mainstream AFL discourse. He’s a sweetheart of the competition, and justifiably so. He returned mildly last week after a layoff from appendix surgery but will only be better for the run. This man is capable of monstrous scores and, facing a weak Saints side, expect him to return to the AFL’s elite with aplomb.

Midfield

Josh P. Kennedy (Syd) ($13,500)

Another widely loved player, Kennedy goes about his business without a whole lot of fanfare. Still, he has been one of the best midfielders in the competition for the best part of half a decade, and he’s still an absolute brute. His highest score of the season, 107, came three weeks ago, and, with his side facing their first non-finals finish since 2009, he will be at the top of his game.

Hugh Greenwood ($12,510)

A surprise to nobody on the inner sanctum at Adelaide, Greenwood has emerged as a top level AFL player this season, particularly over the past two weeks where he has been his sides best player. Not only has he been getting his hands on the ball, he has been hitting the scoreboard, kicking six goals in those matches. He is a proven performer in big games as well, being one of his sides best in the Grand Final loss last year and the Showdown earlier this year. Expect him to be up the top of the DS points again.

Robbie Gray ($11,380)

Robbie Gray was born to play in finals and you can basically take this week’s match as a final. Both sides need to win, and it’s a Showdown. Regular season stakes are scarecely higher. As such, expect Gray to dominate. Last time they played Adelaide he kicked five goals in a quarter and was the difference between the sides, winning the Showdown medal. Averaging over 94 DS points across his past two games, he is also under-priced. He is the pick of the week.

Nathan Freeman ($7,000)

Freeman is one of those guys whose career you look back on and say “what could have been”. Here he is though, making his debut five years and two clubs after being drafted and suffering from persistent hamstring troubles. A proven ball magnet in the VFL, Freeman has been made in a similar mould to Tom Mitchell, with a more pace. His selection comes on the back of a 37 disposal, one goal effort for Sandy last week. At $7,000, Freeman is a no-brainer.

Defence

Rory Laird ($14,750)

An almost undebatable case can be made that Laird is the best rebounding defender in the league. He averages almost 33 disposals a game and is the link Adelaide feeds their play through. Consequently, it is almost impossible for him to have a low scoring game. His three game average of 107 belies his season average of 117.7 but you can basically put your house on him scoring over 100. Like betting on the 7 dog in race 7 at Dapto, Laird just has to be backed,

Alex Johnson ($5,000)

Like Freeman, Johnson’s story is one of reliance and determination. Without getting all sentimental, this guy has endured arguably the worst run of injury in AFL history, but has battled his way back to play his first game since the Swans’ 2012 Grand Final victory, 2,136 days ago. This selection is based primarily on romace but, consider this, his 2012 DS average was 60 and he managed multiple games over 80.

Ruck

Ben Brown ($14,450)

With Brodie Grundy priced out of contention and the other premier ruckman either not playing or playing against each other, let’s change tact with our ruck selection. Going for Brown here is really a gamble on him kicking a big bag. He won’t get hit-out points, and won’t set the world alight with disposal numbers but, he has the potential to fill his pockets on the scoresheet. Facing a Lions side that allowed Hawkins to kick sveen majors last week, and needing a big bag to reinforce his lead in the Coleman race, Saturday could be a big one for Big Ben.